Pick-up and centering device for billet-handling machines



wN mi... .WMI .HHUWTHUMVIHIM July 17, 1928.

. swirl-H'Y PICK-UP AND GENTERING DEvIcnOR 81mm* HANDLINGHACHINES Filed March 26; 1926" Patented `luly 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PA ENT oFFlc-E.

S'YDNEY SMITH, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE WELLMAN-'SEAVER-MOR- GAN COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.`

:PICK-UP AND CENTEEING DEVICE :Foa BILLET-HANDLING MACHINES.

Ap-pncauon filed Marchas, 192e. serial No. 97,537.

This invention relates to billet handling machines and more especially to machlnes for transferring billets from a heating furnace to a piercing machine wherein the billet is converted into a tubular blank from which seamless drawn tubing is manufactured'.

Itis one of the objects of this invention to provide the handling mechanism with means for automatically making a central depression in one or both ends of the billet so as to facilitate the succeeding piercing operation. It is necessary that the depression or depressions, referred to, be accurately located in the ends of the billets and it' is a further object of the invention to provide adjustable mechanism for forming these depressionswhich will accommodate the apparatus to billets of different diameters and of different lengths. Y c

Other objects of the invention and` the features of novelty will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: y

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but omitting a. portion of the apparatus illustrated in the latter, and having certain parts shown in section and other parts in a different operating rposition from that shown in Figl; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. 4 0 Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates, generally, the trolley of an overheady crane of the type that is commonly used in steel mills for handling ingots and billets, the trolley 10 being adaptedto move back and forth on a travelling bridge of which the beams 11 and 12 are a part. The trolley/10 is provided with wheels 12 which run on rails 13 on the beams 11 and 12. The type of crane which I prefer to employl is that commonly used for handling ingots in connection with soaking pits, such cranes ybeing usually provided with a vertical mast 11, which may be raised and lowered and also revolved, by suitable mechanism forming no part of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention,

I provide, at the lower end of .the mastl 14, a member 15 on which the brackets 16 and 17 are horizontally adjustable, these brackets engaging with gibs 18 on opposite sides of @agement with a fulcrum member 23 which is horizontally movable in ways 24, in the member 15. In a similar manner, the screw 20 has threaded engagement with a fulcrum member 25 that is horizontally slidable in ways 26 in the member 15.v The member 23 is provided with trunnions 27 on which av pair of levers 28'isfulcrumed and the member v25 has trunnions 29 on which a pair of levers 30 is fulcrumed.

They bracket 16 is provided with a cylin-` drical bore 31v in which the hub'` 32 of' a conical cup-shaped member 33 is' slida'ble.

A pin 34is secured to the bracket 16, by

a nut 35, or any other suitable manner, yand is arranged co-axial lwith the hub 32 and surrounded by avspring 36 whichv is adapted to permit the member 33 to yieldwhen it engages with the endk of a billet. I' A s101537 extends longitudinally of the hub 32 and the end of a screw 38 engages with this'slot so as to prevent they member 33 from turning, although permitting it to movein an axial direction. The inner end of thek pin 34 is provided with a conical punch 39 which` is arranged atthe axis of the pin so as to be adapted to engage the end of the billet and form a depression at. the center thereof,ithis i depression serving asa meansfor locating the piercing tool when the billet is subsequently| pierced. f 'y Opposed tothe member 33 isa similar memberfiOi which .is slidable inr thebracket 17 and backed upy by a spring similar to the spring 36. The bracket 16'has a pairl of oppositely projecting trunnions 41 `to which the lower ends of the levers 30 arerespectively connected by links 42,.it being understood thatv these links are arranged von 'op-l the, movement of the cross-'head 44 actuates the levers 2S and 30 and thus moves the brackets 16 and 17 toward and away from each other for the purpose of clamping or releasing a billet.

A verticallyextending shaft 49 is secured to the cross-head tt and has its upper end threaded, as vindicated at 50, and engaged by a rotatable nut 51 which is carried by the frame of the trolley and rotated by means of the gearing 52, from any suitable source lof power, such as a motor carried by the trolley.

The bracket 17 carries a pin 53, similar to the pin 34- and having a punch 54 on the inner end thereof to form a central depression in the end of the billet.

In Fig.v 2, a billet is indicated in dotted lines at 55 and, when it is desired to lift this billet and form the central depressions in the ends thereof, the parts of the mechanism will be positioned substantially as shown in this figure. The billet will, of course, be supported in such a ymanner as to permit the members 33 and 40 to receive the ends thereof. The nut 51 is then rotated and thev cross-head Lift is thereby raised. The levers 28. and30 are thus swung toward the positions shown in Fig. 1,"the ends of the billet being gripped by the members 33 and 4L() which,'on` account of their conical form,

will accurately center the billet.V VWhen the members 33 and 10 engage the end of the billet, their movement lis arrested and the further movement of the bracketslti and'l', due to vfurther raising of the cross-head all, will cause the spring 36 and also "the spring which backs up the member 40, to be compressed untilthe punches 39 and 54C engage the ends of the billet and form the depressions therein. rIhe engagement of the ends of the pins 34 and 53, with the ends of the billet, will arrestl the inward movement 'of they brackets 16 and 17 and the billet will then be gripped in such a manner that it may vbe lifted and transported to its destination. rIhe conical shape of the members 33 and 40 adapts themto billets of different diameters and, 'by moving the cross-heads 23, and 25`,`in or out, as may be necessary, the mechanism may be adapted to billets of different lengths, such movement of the cross-heads being effected by meansv of the screws 19 and 20.

IVhen it is desired to form a central de# pression in only one end of the billet, the punch 54 may be omitted.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1; In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a lifting member7 and arm thereon having means adapted' to engage one end of a billet, abracket slidable on said member aXiallyof the billet, a centering member carried by said bracket and engageable with one end of the bill'ettoposition the latter, a

brackets.

punch carried by said bracket andmovable therewith to forma central depression in said end of the billet, and means for moving said bracket.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a lifting member, an arm thereon having means adapted to engage one end of a billet, a bracket slidable on said member axially of the billet, a centering member' carried by said bracket and engageable with one end of the billet to position the latter, a punch carried by said bracket and movable therewith to forma central depression in said end of the billet, a lever fulcrumed on said member and operativelyconnected with said bracket, a vertically movable crossfhead on said member, and a link connecting said cross-head and said lever.` y

Inapparatu's of the class described, the combination of alifting'member, an arm thereon having means adapted to engage one end of a billet, a bracket slidable' on said member axially of the billet, a. conical'cup carried by saidbracket and adapted to engage and' positiony one end of a billet, said c'up being movable on said bracket and yieldingly held in engagement with the billet, a punch supported within said cup atthe axis thereof and adapted to engage the end of the billet and form a central depression therein, and `means for lmoving said bracket.

at. In' apparatus ofthe class described, the combination ofa lifting member, an Aarm thereon "having a conical cup adaptedto en gage one end of a billet toposition the same, a bracket' slidable on said member axially of the billet, 1a conical cup slidableon said bracket and adapted to engage and position the othery end of the billet', a spring forI pressing said cup toward said billet, a punch carried by said bracket and relative to which the second-mentioned cup moves, and means for moving said bracket.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a lifting member, ar pair of opposed brackets slidable on said member, a

conical cup member yieldingly carried by each of said brackets and adapted to cooperate to engage the opposite ends of a billet to position the latter', a punch carried by one of said brackets and adapted to engage the end of the billet and form a central depression therein, and means for moving said 6. In apparatus of the class described,y the combinationof a lifting member, a pair of opposed brackets slidable on said member, a conical cup member yieldinglycarried by each of said brackets andadapted to cooperate to engage the opposite ends of a billet to position the latter, a punch carried by one of saidf brackets and adapted to engage the ,end of'thcbillet and vform a central depression therein, levers pivotally mounted on 7. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a lifting member, a pair of opposed brackets slidable on said member, a conical cup member yieldingly carriedv by each of said brackets'and adapted to cooperate to engage the opposite ends of a billet to position the latter, a punch carried by one of said brackets and adapted to engage the end of the billet and form a central depression therein, levers pivotally mounted on said lifting member and operatively connected at one end with said brackets, a vertically movable member, links connecting the last-mentioned member with said levers, and means for adjusting the fulcrums of said levers to adapt the apparatus to billets of different lengths.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a lifting member, a pair of opposed brackets slidable on said member, a conical cup member yieldingly carried by each of said brackets and adapted to cooperate to engage the opposite ends of a billet to position the latter, a punch carried by one of'said brackets and adapted to engage the end of the billet and form a central depression therein, fulcrum members movably mounted on said lifting member, levers pivotallyv mounted on said fulcrum members andl operatively connected at one end with said brackets, a vertically movable crosshead carried by said lifting member, links connecting said cross-head with said levers, and means for adjusting said fulcrum members.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature.

SYDNEY SMITH. 

